What our local film fixers have to say about filming in Central Africa
As can be derived from the region’s name, Central Africa lies across the middle section of the enormous African continent. The designation of the countries that comprise the region vary according to different definitions but at a glance they include Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, the DRC, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Rwanda and Burundi are usually on the list too, as well as the tiny archipelago of São Tomé and Príncipe. French is widely spoken throughout these Central African countries (along with regional local languages) except for São Tomé and Príncipe, where the official language is Portuguese.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be exploring some special areas of interest that can be found within this African subregion. Our first stop takes us to the DRC.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park (DRC)
Named after the two dormant volcanoes Kahuzi and Biega, this sprawling tropical rainforest is a UNESCO world heritage site and boasts of an abundance of diverse fauna including one of the last groups of eastern lowland gorillas. Because the park is set in both mountainous and lowland terrain it has become the perfect refuge for this endangered species. The park is located near the west bank of Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border in eastern DRC. It is reachable by air from Kinshasa. Alternatively, you can reach it by road or water from various cities in the DRC as well as Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.
Loufoulakari Falls (Congo)
The confluence of the Congo and the Loufoulakari rivers results in the formation of the majestic Loufoulakari waterfalls which can be found 80km west of Congo’s capital of Brazzaville. Here the water cascades against black rock which sits amidst lush forests. The waterfalls swell in size during the rainy seasons which fall between March and May and October and November. The journey by car from Brazzaville is roughly 3 hours long and takes you through stunning African natural scenery which offer great stills photography opportunities and makes for a memorable trip.
Having done extensive research on the DRC and Congo, Hoodlum Film Fixers have compiled and condensed the essential information needed to procure your travel documentation for these countries specifically. It is important to note that you will need special permits for drone filming that we can help you with and general film shooting permits will take up to 2 weeks to obtain. Shooting with security is also imperative when on location in these countries. Our local film production teams have become location scouting specialists and we have strong relationships with the best accommodation properties and transportation service providers the region has to offer – undoubtedly deserving of your confident stamp of approval. Every detail and specific requirement can easily be taken care of by our local film crews.
